Sears CRAFTSMAN 944.604900 Owner's Manual page 23

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS
TO CHECK AND ADJUST BRAKE
If tractor requires more than fi ve (5) feet to stop at highest
speed in high est gear on a level, dry concrete or paved
surface, then brake must be checked and ad just ed.
TO CHECK BRAKE
• Park tractor on a level, dry concrete or paved surface,
depress clutch/brake pedal all the way down and en-
gage parking brake.
• Disengage transmission by placing freewheel control
in "transmission disengaged" position. Pull freewheel
con trol out and into the slot and release so it is held in
the disengaged position.
The rear wheels must lock and skid when you try to manually
push the tractor forward. If the rear wheels rotate, the brake
needs to be adjusted or the pads need to be replaced.
TO ADJUST BRAKE/REPLACE PADS
Contact a qualifi ed service center.
TO REPLACE MOTION DRIVE BELT
(See Fig. 29)
Park the tractor on level surface. Engage parking brake.
For ease of service there is a belt installation guide decal
on bottom of left footrest.
• Remove mower (See "TO REMOVE MOWER" in this
section of this manual.)
BELT REMOVAL -
• Create slack in belt by removing retainer spring from
drive belt tension handle.
• Remove belt from all idler pulleys, transaxle pulley and
then from engine pulley.
BELT INSTALLATION -
• Install new belt around engine pulley fi rst, then around
transaxle pulley and lastly into all the idler pulleys.
• Check to be sure belt is positioned correctly and is on
proper side of all belt keepers.
• Engage the drive belt tension handle and replace the
retainer spring.
• Reinstall mower.
RETAINER
SPRING
DRIVE BELT
TENSION HANDLE
ENGINE PULLEY
BELT KEEPER
BELT
BELT
KEEPER
V-IDLER
KEEPER
02504
TRANSAXLE
PULLEY
FLAT IDLER
BELT
KEEPER
2498
CLUTCHING CLUTCHING
IDLER FLAT IDLER
FIG. 29
TRANSAXLE
NEUTRAL ADJUSTMENT (See Fig. 30)
The motion control lever has been pre set at the factory and
adjustment should not be necessary.
• Park tractor on level surface. Stop tractor by turning
ignition key to "OFF" position and engage park ing
brake.
• Loosen the adjustment bolt in front of the right rear
wheel.
• Move motion control lever to the neutral position (N).
• Tighten the adjustment bolt.
TRANSMISSION REMOVAL/REPLACEMENT
Should your transmission require removal for service or
re place ment, it should be purged after reinstallation and
before op er at ing the tractor. See "PURGE TRANS MIS SION"
in the Operation section of this manual.
TO AD JUST STEER ING WHEEL ALIGN-
MENT
If steering wheel crossbars are not horizontal (left to right)
when wheels are positioned straight forward, remove steer-
ing wheel and reassemble per instructions in the Assembly
section of this manual.
FRONT WHEEL TOE-IN/CAMBER
The front wheel toe-in and camber are not adjustable on
your tractor. If damage has occurred to affect the front
wheel toe-in or camber, contact your nearest authorized
service center/department.
TO REMOVE WHEEL FOR REPAIRS
FRONT WHEEL (See Fig. 31)
• Block up axle securely.
• Remove axle cover, retaining ring and washers to allow
wheel removal.
• Repair tire and reassemble.
• Replace washers and snap retaining ring securely in
axle groove.
• Replace axle cover.
REAR WHEEL -
• Block rear axle securely.
• Remove fi ve (5) hub bolts to allow wheel removal.
• Repair tire and reassemble. Replace and tighten hub
bolts securely.
23
MOTION CONTROL LEVER
AD JUST MENT
BOLT
02508
FIG. 30